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"Never under any condition should this nation look at an immigrant as primarily a labor unit. He should always be looked at primarily as a future citizen."-Theodore Roosevelt, 1917

"It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people."-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Isaona i tumungo’ ya ha sedi, ki ayo i mismo umisagui hao. Greater is the fault of he who allows the injustice upon himself. "-Chamorro proverb

"There can be no tyrants where there are no slaves." -Jose Rizal

"I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights." -Bishop Desmond Tutu

Disclaimer: This is not a legal blog. No opinion or statement should be perceived as legal advice. All posts are the opinion of the author or contributors who are expressing their First Amendment Rights.

The White House has leaked the text of a proposed immigration bill, which calls for undocumented immigrants to become permanent residents after an eight year period. USA Today first broke the story, which has been picked up by numerous media outlets.

The plan also would provide for more security funding and require business owners to check the immigration status of new hires within four years. In addition, the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants could apply for a newly created "Lawful Prospective Immigrant" visa, under the draft bill being written by the White House.

Both Senate and House Committees are also drafting comprehensive immigration reform legislation. In an immigration speech delivered in Las Vegas, Nevada two weeks ago, President Obama promised if the House and Senate could not deliver comprehensive immigration reform then he would put forth his own bill and ask for an immediate vote.

According to the White House draft, people would need to pass a criminal background check, submit biometric information and pay fees to qualify for the new visa. If approved, they would be allowed to legally reside in the U.S. for four years, work and leave the country for short periods of time. After the four years, they could then reapply for an extension.

Illegal immigrants would be disqualified from the program if they were convicted of a crime that led to a prison term of at least one year, three or more different crimes that resulted in a total of 90 days in jail, or if they committed any offense abroad that "if committed in the United States would render the alien inadmissible or removable from the United States."

People currently in federal custody or facing deportation proceedings also could be allowed to apply for the Lawful Prospective Immigrant visa. Application forms and instructions would be provided in "the most common languages spoken by persons in the United States," but the application and all supporting evidence submitted to the federal government would have to be in English.

They would also be given a new identification card to show as proof of their legal status in the country.
The immigrants could then apply for legal permanent residence, commonly known as a green card, within eight years if they learn English and "the history and government of the United States" and pay back taxes. That would then clear the path for them to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Today on Sunday talk shows, Denis McDonough, the President's Chief of Staff defended the President's action in creating his own immigration bill. He said that the President still wants Congress to lead the effort. The draft is being made in case Congress moves too slowly.

It is clear that President Obama wants comprehensive immigration reform passed this year.

Any bill that is providing protection to foreign workers in the United States of America is a welcome news for the people and be appreciated by the people of the world.I will wait and see what Mr. Kilili is going to do for the legal and long-term CNMI alien workers in his bill.CW-1 Guest workers program in CNMI currently run by DHS-USCIS will be gone once US immigration reform bill is passed because US immigration reform bill will apply to everywhere as long as it is US soil where Immigration system administered by federal gov't.

and this is only the presidents wish list. I wouldn't put any stock in this as the president doesn't initiate bills in Congress. if this is his wish list i would expect he is willing to comprimise to something even less or more time. How are many illegals going to have the money to pay fines and application fees. i guarantee they will not allow a waiver of fees. if people cannot even pay for the benefit what does that say about their ability to be self sufficient? He wants to get it done soon because the publics attitude will change if they have time to analyze the true cost of any major reform. I don't think it will happen anytime soon. just a general feeling about the problems this nation faces right now which are much greater than immigration reform. watch out for the March 1st sequesteration...our economy will go into free fall and immigration reform will fall by the wayside once again.... the pres just wants to appear he is trying to do something to keep the latino vote steered towards the dems.